Some Context…
My first camera was an old camcorder that took electronic tapes. Those were the days... Five years later, I upgraded to the Cannon T5I which was the start to my videography and photography. Ever since I've loved Canon's colour science. Canon has undoubtedly dominated the way their sensors have capture colour compared to Nikon (in my opinion). The contrast and highlights are perfect (once again, my opinion). However, despite being an APS-C sensor, Canon was just not achieving the lowlight standards that I needed to continue perfecting my neon photos.
This pushed me into upgrading years after getting my T5I to get a full frame and more lowlight capable camera. However, Canon was not reasonable with their prices compared to Sony's. This pushed me to buy a Sony A7 which I will talk about in another post. For about a year I worked with the Sony A7 before touching another camera. That was until I worked with the Canon C100 and C200.
First Impressions..
My first impressions after working with the C200 series were just blown away. After being with Sony for a while, I completely forgot how good Canon's sensors were. I realized that Sony wasn't great with colour but It was a small problem. To be fair, we are comparing a 10k cine camera to a small mirrorless camera, but that doesn't explain why I felt the colour science behind my T5I was better as well. I've also become more aware of my friend's work which coincidentally has canon gear. I've noticed that the contrast and tones were captured perfectly almost most of the time.
The Canon C100 series is the first series that I've actually been able to operate for a good amount of time. I must say that these cameras are amazing with the low light capability (once again, can't compare to my sony as it is a mirrorless and not a cine camera). The c200 has the ability to shoot RAW which is a big stepping stone for Canon. This gives you the ability to have more control over your image in post, but takes up a lot and I MEAN A LOT of space. Of course, however, the Mp4 option will do the job.
When you attach the Atmos to the C200 and C100, I find that the camera is a lot more efficient due to the menu screen (which is a touch screen) on the Atmos. I also found the focus peaking was way better than the one Canon provides. If you attach an Atmos, it leaves you with the option to have focus peaking on the Atmos and look at the image on the monitor on the camera. Another plus is the size of the screen. It is much bigger than the monitor that comes with the C100 and C200 (which I am certain that isn't touchscreen, on the C100 at least) Overall, it makes the process of getting what you want a lot easier.
Another plus is the use of the ND filters inside the camera. This makes the camera more time efficient when filming on the go. Instead of looking through your bag for an ND filter that you would have to screw on the lens or place in a matte box, you can just click one button and bam! This makes documentary filmmaking a lot easier and convenient.
I also appreciate the multiple record buttons located around the camera. This makes it easier for me, the camera operator to press the record button at anytime because there is always one around me. If it still doesn't work for you, you can set up custom buttons through the menu to make things more comfortable for you. This is also a big plus, especially for on the run filming when you can't reach a certain button. What's also a positive is that there is a record button on the handle which leads me to my next topic.
Lastly, the handle that comes with this camera is another plus. This also makes documentary filmmaking a lot more efficient as the operator can follow the subject at any given time. This handle is removable of course but even if its mounted on a tripod, I recommend using its small joystick to maneuver through the menu and change iso etc.
With that being said, canon has been selling camera gear for a lot longer than Sony and additionally, Sony has just hit a breaking point with their cameras over the past few years. If Sony can capture the same or if not better colour and contrast, they will be a serious competitor for Canon. More specifically on Canon's cinema camera lineup, however, I find that each product that has been released has stood its ground. The lightweight and compact cameras are very efficient when it comes to documentary filmmaking and even features. The compatibility with canon's glass makes it even stronger in the market. I'll be using these cameras more over the next month and will gain more experience with them. Hopefully, afterward, I can write more about them and go more in-depth.